At the Heart

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

The beckoned coming

The center holds — controls — and will control, —

As falconer controls the gyring loop,

Prevents the bird of prey while it patrols

The land and sky with hoop and hoop and hoop,

Perfecting their display around their core

With human mind and will requiring from

The pith.  The falconer is like a roar

That only falcons can detect, the thrum

Of his command a hum of silence to

The hunter up above him, silent though

Not silent in the feathered brain in blue

Since bird is tied to him in love, just so.

The gyre goes broken only when the flight

Remembers hand below controlling, tight.

©  Phillip Whidden